Page 62 of Alpha Marked

CHAPTERTWELVE

The moment Ares spotted River across the room wearing barely anything, he was gone. The women grinding against him were little better than mutts compared to the goddess who would be his mate.

Seeing her toss the girl off him had almost sent him over the edge. The fire in her eyes said everything. He was hers, and she wouldn't let anyone else have him.

His wolf had howled and ignored everyone else in the club. His mate. His Omega.

They spentthe rest of the night pressed against each other, dancing.

By two a.m., the club had started to wind down, and they had gotten into the car together, heading back to the hotel. Wrapping his arms all the way around her, he realized how fragile she felt. It amazed him that such a small little wolf could be so fierce—like a little fluffy Pomeranian.

Ares chuckled.

"What’s so funny?" she asked between yawns.

"You're small but so feisty. Like a Pomeranian."

She yawned again. "As the daughter of the pack's enforcer, I was constantly challenged by those who wanted to show me up or wanted to threaten my mom."

Ares's eye twitched. "You were beaten?"

"Not much. Like I told you before, my bite is worse than my bark."

Ares laid his chin on her hair. "You tell me who they are, and I'll rip their teeth and claws out individually."

He waited for her to respond, only to be met by the steady beat of her heart and a light snore.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

River awoke the next day to the fragrance of flowers. She sat up on the bed to find she was still in her outfit from the night before. Ares' side of the bed hadn't been disturbed.

Her wolf whined. He hadn't stayed with her.

They'd made headway last night. Somehow, in the hours of dancing, she'd let go of everything that plagued them and just was. He was a terrific dancer, of course, as if he would be anything else with a body like his. And in those hours touched and holding onto him, she'd been more intimate with him than she ever had with the guys she'd slept with. And in that intimacy, something had clicked for her. Something she'd been trying to deny since meeting him. They were mates.

She pulled her hair. A mate. She had a mate. A hot, rich, royal mate. What the hell did she do with a mate- besides the obvious? She didn't want to be a princess. She didn't want to have servants and bodyguards. She wanted to make her art and… be normal. But normal had gone out the door the moment she was born. Only she'd not known it until a few years ago.

Even then, she'd thought she would be okay if she took the pills, used the sprays, and stayed away from shifters for the most part. But here she was with the fated mate of all fated mates.

She swallowed. Ares had been in the room, and he hadn't stayed. From what she remembered, he hadn't tried anything. He'd not even taken her clothes off her.

Every movement when they'd danced, he'd let her lead. If he touched her, it was because she'd wanted him to. On the ride to the hotel, he'd done nothing more than hold her. He hadn't tried to kiss her or anything. He'd been a perfect gentleman. Something she'd not thought he would be.

She scolded herself. Why had she thought that? Because of what she'd been taught about Lycans growing up, which made her as ignorant about supes as humans.

The aroma of flowers struck her again, and she walked to the bright bouquet of irises, lilies, and peonies sitting on the table. She sniffed them, and her body flushed with heat. She couldn't help the rush of joy that trickled through her. A man had never bought her flowers before. Maybe being mated to a prince wouldn't be so bad. Not if he would buy her flowers.

Her wolf chuffed. She glimpsed a card and removed it from the vase.

River,

I cordially invite you to an evening of food and culture.

I will be back to pick you up at four.

Yours Truly, A.

Something about his romantic gesture lifted her lips into a smile. She never thought she'd be the kind of woman to be wooed with flowers and the promise of expensive food, but apparently, she was.

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